Scioscia: Puig Hasn't Yet Earned All-Star Status

5 Jul 2013

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said he felt Los Angeles Dodgers phenom Yasiel Puig should not go to the All-Star game this year while acknowledging he will make plenty of All-Star appearances in the future.

“I think he needs to go a little farther to earn it,” Scioscia told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday. “If he’s not an All-Star this year, he’s going to be an All-Star for years to come. But I do think you have to play enough to earn a spot on the All-Star team.”

Puig became the first player in history to win the player of the month award in his debut month and the fifth ever to win the rookie of the month and player of the month awards in the same month after a torrid June that may have arguably been the best debut by a baseball player ever.

He did acknowledge that because the league that wins the All-Star Game gets home field advantage in the World Series, National League manager Bruce Bochy may want Puig on the team because, as Scioscia said, “He’s as dynamic a player as you’re going to see in the major leagues,” Scioscia said.

Scioscia, of course, has strong ties to the Dodgers, having caught for the organization and learned to play “the Dodger Way” of baseball. Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully said the Dodgers made a huge mistake in letting Scioscia leave their organization. He said it was one of the top three mistakes the organization (Roberto Clemente, Vladmimir Guerrero) has made while he has been their announcer.